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die。 They may sleep for a season； they may be taken away when they have
served their generation； and done their work。 The Lord is continually
ing down to His garden and〃 gathering lilies；〃 laying flowers in His
bosom one after the other； but the Lord's flowers shall all rise again。
When the Lord es again the second time； He shall bring His people
with Him。 His flowers shall live once more； more bright； more sweet；
more lovely； more beautiful； more glorious； more pure； more shining；
more fair。 They shall have a glorious body like their Lord's； and shall
flourish for ever in the courts of our God。
（1） Reader； are you in the Lord's garden； or are you in the wilderness
of this world？
You must be in one or the other。 You must take your choice。 Which have
you chosen； and which do you choose now？ The Lord Jesus would fain
transplant you。
He strives with you by His Spirit。 He would fain add you to the number
of His beloved ones。 He knocks at the door of your heart by word and by
providence。 He whispers to your conscience； 〃Awake； arise； repent； be
converted； and e away！〃
Oh； turn not away from Him that speaketh！ Resist not the Holy Ghost。
Choose not your place in the wilderness； but in the garden。 Awake；
arise； and turn away from the world。
（2） Reader！ the wilderness or the garden！ Which will you have？
If the wilderness； you will have your own way； run wild； grow to waste；
bring forth fruit and flowers to yourself； bee a barren；
unprofitable； useless plant； live unloved and unlovable to yourself；
and at last be gathered in the bundle with the tares； and burned！
If the garden；you will not have your own way。 But you will have what
is far better； you will have God and Christ for your own。 You will be
cultivated； watered； tended； moved； pruned； trained by the Lord Jesus
Himself； and at last your name shall be found in the bundle of life。
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CHAPTER XVI
Prov。 22：6。
THE DUTIES OF PARENTS
〃Train up a child in the way he should go； and when he is old； he will
not depart from it。〃Prov。 22：6。
I SUPPOSE that most professing Christians are acquainted with the text
at the head of this page。 The sound of it is probably familiar to your
ears； like an old tune。 It is likely you have heard it； or read it；
talked of it； or quoted it； many a time。 Is it not so？
But； after all； how little is the substance of this text regarded！ The
doctrine it contains appears scarcely known； the duty it puts before us
seems fearfully seldom practised。 Reader； do I not speak the truth？
It cannot be said that the subject is a new one。 The world is old； and
we have the experience of nearly six thousand years to help us。 We live
in days when there is a mighty zeal for education in every quarter。 We
hear of new schools rising on all sides。 We are told of new systems；
and 〃new books for the young； of every sort and description。 And still
for all this； the vast majority of children are manifestly not trained
in the way they should go； for when they grow up to man's estate； they
do not walk with God。
Now how shall we account for this state of things？ The plain truth is；
the Lord's mandment in our text is not regarded； and therefore the
Lord's promise in our text is not fulfilled。
Reader； these things may well give rise to great searchings of heart。
Suffer then a word of exhortation from a minister； about the right
training of children。 Believe me； the subject is one that should e
home to every conscience； and make every one ask himself the question；
〃 Am I in this matter doing what I can？〃
It is a subject that concerns almost all。 There is hardly a household
that it does not touch。 Parents； nurses； teachers； godfathers；
godmothers； uncles； aunts； brothers； sisters；all have an interest in
it。 Few can be found； I think； who might not influence some parent in
the management of his family； or affect the training of some child by
suggestion or advice。 All of us； I suspect； can do something here；
either directly or indirectly； and I wish to stir up all to bear this
in remembrance。
It is a subject； too； on which all concerned are in great danger of
ing short of their duty。 This is pre…eminently a point in which men
can see the faults of their neighbours more clearly than their own。
They will often bring up their children in the very path which they
have denounced to their friends as unsafe。 They will see motes in other
men's families； and overlook beams in their own。 They will be quick
sighted as eagles in detecting mistakes abroad； and yet blind as bats
to fatal errors which are daily going on at home。 They will be wise
about their brother's house； but foolish about their own flesh and
blood。 Here； if anywhere； we have need to suspect our own judgment。
This； too； you will do well to bear in mind。
＇14＇
e now； and let me place before you a few hints about right training。
God the Father； God the Son； God the Holy Ghost bless them； and make
them words in season to you all Reject them not because they are blunt
and simple； despise them not because they contain nothing new。 Be very
sure； if you would train children for heaven； they are hints that ought
not to be lightly set aside。
I。 First； then； if you would train your children rightly； train them in
the way they should go； and not in the way that they would。
Remember children are born with a decided bias towards evil； and
therefore if you let them choose for themselves； they are certain to
choose wrong。
The mother cannot tell what her tender infant may grow up to be；tall
or short； weak or strong； wise or foolish： he may be any of these
things or not；it is all uncertain。 But one thing the mother can say
with certainty： he will have a corrupt and sinful heart。 It is natural
to us to do wrong。 〃Foolishness；〃 says Solomon； 〃is bound in the heart
of a child〃 （Prov。 22：15）。 〃A child left to himself bringeth his mother
to shame〃 （Prov。 29：15）。 Our hearts are like the earth on which we
tread； let it alone； and it is sure to bear weeds。
If； then； you would deal wisely with your child； you must not leave him
to the guidance of his own will。 Think for him； judge for him； act for
him； just as you would for one weak and blind； but for pity's sake；
give him not up to his own wayward tastes and inclinations。 It must not
be his likings and wishes that are consulted。 He knows not yet what is
good for his mind and soul； any more than what is good for his body。
You do not let him decide what he shall eat； and what he shall drink；
and how he shall be clothed。 Be consistent； and deal with his mind in
like manner。 Train him in the way that is scriptural and right； and not
in the way that he fancies。
If you cannot make up your mind to this first principle of Christian
training； it is useless for you to read any further。 Self…will is
almost the first thing that appears in a child's mind； and it must be
your first step to resist it。
II。 Train up your child with all tenderness； affection； and patience。。
I do not mean that you are to spoil him； but I do mean that you should
let him see that you love him。
Love should be the silver thread that runs through all your conduct。
Kindness； gentleness； long…suffering； forbearance； patience； sympathy；
a willingness to enter into childish troubles； a readiness to take part
in childish joys；…these are the cords by which a child may be led
most easily；these are the clues you must follow if you would find the
way to his heart。
Few are to be found； even among grown…up people； who are not more easy
to draw than to drive。 There is that in all our minds which rises in
arms against pulsion； we set up our backs and stiffen our necks at
the very idea of a forced obedience。 We are like young horses in the
hand of a breaker： handle them kindly； and make much of them； and by
and by you may guide them with thread； use them roughly and violently；
and it will be many a month before you get the mastery of them at all。
Now children's minds are cast in much the same mould as our own。
Sternness and severity of manner chill them and throw them back。 It
shuts up their hearts； and you will weary yourself to find the door。
But let them only see that you have an affectionate feeling towards
them；that you are really desirous to make them happy； and do them
good；that if you punish them； it is intended for their profit； and
that； like the pelican； you would give your heart's blood to nourish
their souls； let them see this； I say； and they will soon be all your
own。 But they must be wooed with kindness； if their attention is ever
to be won。
And surely reason itself might teach us this lesson。 Children are weak
and tender creatures； and； as such； they need patient and considerate
treatment。 We